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Lawrence City Councilor Julia Silverio has asked for an investigation into the
Mayor's consultant contracts in the wake of admissions by Mayor Dowling that she does not read or sign the multi-million dollar legal documents. Dowling admits that someone in her office, she doesn't know who, rubber stamps the contracts. The revelation concerning
consultant contracts came during the firing of superintendent Mae Gaskins when Mayor Dowling tried to blame consultant spending on the superintendent. Gaskins’ Attorney Michael Long unveiled enlarged photocopies of those contracts for the crowded audience during a meeting, revealing Mayor Dowling's signature on each and every contract used to fire the superintendent.

After several hours of debate the councilors voted 6-3 in favor of creating a special committee to look into the policies and practices of consultant contracts in City Hall. Councilors said they were concerned about the legalities of how consultants are chosen, and what process is used to select, pay, and negotiate those contracts. Several councilors claimed they were motivated to look into the Mayor’s spending after the school committee meeting revealed irregularities in the process.

The ordinance sub committee recommended to the full council that they select an outside consultant to assist them in the probe, and the council president appoint a sub-committee to conduct the investigation. Councilors voted to establish a special committee by a 6-3 vote drawing charges by one councilor, Marie Gosselin, who said that the ordinance committee members were conducting a "Witch Hunt."

Gosselin, who was supported in the last election by Mayor Dowling, said she would not support the measure to investigate how public tax money was being spent. Gosselin said she would not support the committee investigation and spoke at length trying to shift the focus of the contracts away from the Mayors office. Voting against the special committee
investigation were Council President Frank Kivell, District "F" councilor Marie Gosselin and District E councilor Gil Frechette. Councilor Frechette made a motion to postpone the vote saying he needed more information and time to digest the letter of recommendation by the ordinance committee. Frechette is a new member on the council.

Voting in favor of the special committee investigation were councilors Alvarez, Silverio, LaPlante, Blanchette, Sullivan, and Devers. District "C" councilor Nilka Alvarez said of the probe, "I've been paying attention to the school committee situation and I think the public is now paying attention to what we are doing here." she said. Alvarez said the public needs to have confidence in their elected officials and this sub committee is a good way to show the tax payers how their money is being spent.

Council President Frank Kivell tried to convince his colleagues that it was a violation of the city charter to put civilians on a city board. "It's against the city charter, and this city charter is our bible." Kivell said. According to the Lawrence city charter, subcommittees may establish their own rules and procedures on how to conduct business. Other governmental committees established by the council have routinely consisted of civilians despite Kivells claims. The stadium commission, and the search committee for the police chief both had civilians appointed to them. Kivell said that was “different”, concerned that the special consultant would have powers similar to elected councilors. Silverio and Alvarez assured Kivell that the consultant would only be assisting in the investigation and would have no powers other than those granted by the council.

School Committee members Raphael Carrero and Mike Sweeney cautioned Mayor Dowling several times during the Gaskins hearings. "I think we are setting a very dangerous precedent here." cautioned Carerro. Committeeman Michael Sweeney said "This standard, once applied to Mae Gaskins, will have to be applied evenly to everyone at this table. I think once we go down this road, this standard is going to have long standing repercussions." Those repercussions are now coming by way of the city council holding Mayor Dowling to the very same retroactive standard she set during the Gaskins hearings. To date, the daily newspaper has yet to report on the councils actions.